The general linear group $\mathrm{GL}(V)$ consists of all the invertible linear transformations on $V$. Taking the quotient by the centre, we obtain the projective linear group $\mathrm{PGL}(V) = \mathrm{GL}(V) / Z(\mathrm{GL}(V))$.

Not surprisingly, the semilinear group $\mathrm{\Gamma L}(V)$ consists of all the invertible semilinear transformations on $V$, and its quotient by the centre is the projective semilinear group $\mathrm{P\Gamma L}(V) = \mathrm{\Gamma L}(V) / Z(\mathrm{\Gamma L}(V))$.

Here is the exercise that gives me trouble:

Show that the group $\mathrm{GL}(V)$ is normal in $\mathrm{\Gamma L}(V)$, and that $\mathrm{PGL}(V)$ is normal in $\mathrm{P\Gamma L}(V)$.

Work done. I don't have any trouble proving that $\mathrm{GL}(V) \lhd \mathrm{\Gamma L}(V)$, it follows straight from the definitions above. But I'm confused by the second part of the question, the one about projective groups.

This is what I don't understand: how can $\mathrm{PGL}(V)$ be a normal subgroup of $\mathrm{P\Gamma L}(V)$ if it is not its subgroup in the first place? I don't see a natural way to build an injection from $\mathrm{PGL}(V)$ to $\mathrm{P\Gamma L}(V)$.

The problem is, $Z(\mathrm{GL}(V)) \not\leq Z(\mathrm{\Gamma L}(V))$ in the general case. To see this, let $V=F$ be a one-dimensional space. Let $\sigma$ be a non-trivial automorphism of the field $F$. Note that $\sigma$ is automatically a semilinear transformation of $V$.

Now take $\varphi:\ V \to V$ to be multiplication by $\lambda \in F$, where $\lambda^\sigma \neq \lambda$. Then $\varphi$ commutes with every linear transformation on $V$, but it does not commute with the semilinear $\sigma$. So $\varphi$ belongs to $Z(\mathrm{GL}(V))$, but not to $Z(\mathrm{\Gamma L}(V))$.

The definition of ${\rm P \Gamma L}(V)$ that I have always used is ${\rm \Gamma L}(V)/Z({\rm GL}(V))$ (i.e. factor out scalars), so it seems possible that the authors have made a mistake with the definition.
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Derek HoltMar 2 '13 at 13:44

Thanks @Derek, with this definition the question makes much more sense. I'll look in other books to compare definitions.
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Dan ShvedMar 2 '13 at 13:48

In general, the center of $GL$ is isomorphic to $F^\times$ and that of $\Gamma L$ is isomorphic to $K^\times$ where $K$ is the prime field of $F$. Then indeed there is no natural way to obtain $PGL\toP\Gamma L$ as one needs $F^\times\to K^\times$ for that. For finite extensions, this might be the norm, but even that does not extend nicely to $GL$. So Derek's hint might be it.
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Hagen von EitzenMar 2 '13 at 14:44

@DerekHolt Please consider converting your comment into an answer, so that this question gets removed from the unanswered tab. If you do so, it is helpful to post it to this chat room to make people aware of it (and attract some upvotes). For further reading upon the issue of too many unanswered questions, see here, here or here.
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Julian KuelshammerJun 23 '13 at 7:57

1 Answer
1

The given definition of $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ is not the usual one:
Typically $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ is not defined as $\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V)/Z(\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V))$, but as the quotient group $\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V)/Z(\operatorname{GL}(V))$.
Now it is clear that $\operatorname{PGL}(V)$ is a subgroup of $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$.

The slightly subtle point is that the center $Z(\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V))$ is not the same as the center $Z(\operatorname{GL}(V))$. The latter one is given by all diagonal maps $v\mapsto \lambda v$ with $\lambda\in F^\times$. However, for the center of $\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V)$ we get the additional condition that $\sigma(\lambda) = \lambda$ for all field automorphisms $\sigma\in\operatorname{Aut}(F)$. So $Z(\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V))$ only consists of the scalar matrices whose diagonal entry lies in the unit group of the prime field of $F$.

Given the way how $\operatorname{PGL}(V)$ is defined ("take the group and mod out its center"), the definition of $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ might come as a surprise. The motivation for this slightly unexpected definition the is the following:

The natural action of $\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V)$ on $V$ induces an action on the subspace lattice of $V$. However, this action is not faithful. The kernel of the action is given by $Z(\operatorname{GL}(V))$. Modding out the kernel, we arrive at the group $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ which acts faithfully on the subspace lattice of $V$. Now by the fundamental theorem of projective geometry, the so-defined group $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ is precisely the automorphism group of the subspace lattice of $V$.

Conclusion

The right way to look at the transition from the groups $\operatorname{GL}(V)$ and $\operatorname{\Gamma L}(V)$ to the projective variants $\operatorname{PGL}(V)$ and $\operatorname{P\Gamma L}(V)$ is: Look at the natural action on the projective geometry (aka the subspace lattice of $V$) an mod out the kernel. This is also reflected by the letter "P" for projective in the nomenclature of those groups.